Dick's beat out Sports Authority for the naming rights to Kroenke's soccer stadium in 2006.

Five years ago, Dick’s Sporting Goods won the right to place its name on Stan Kroenke’s new soccer stadium in Commerce City.

The retailer beat out rival Sports Authority, who at the time had a far bigger presence and greater name recognition in the Colorado market, stemming from its merger with Colorado-based Gart Sports in 2003.

Since landing the naming rights to the home of the Colorado Rapids, Dick’s has nearly doubled the number of its Colorado stores to 13. More importantly, its brand is much more visible among sporting goods retailers in what is considered the most active state in the nation.

Emilie Rusch covers retail and commercial real estate for The Post. A Wisconsin native and Mizzou graduate, she moved to Colorado in 2012. Before that, she worked at a small daily newspaper in South Dakota. It's the one with Mount Rushmore.